The Daily 5 - A Reading Framework for Grades 1 - 5
As a classroom teacher, finding the best ways to help children become great readers was my constant focus. I tried everything - whole group instruction, small group instruction, basal readers, leveled readers, AR, peer reading, choral reading, book studies - you name it! I found that the more the children read (independently or in groups) and the more choice they had in reading (magazines, comic books, and high interest books), the better readers they became. When I became the lower school supervisor of curriculum and instruction it was only natural that reading would be a major area of focus.
I talked to teachers at Harding and other schools. I researched reading approaches on the internet and read books about teaching reading. One approach stood out above the rest: The Daily 5: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. Harding Academy adopted this framework for instruction in August 2012. Instead of whole group instruction in their desks, the children are involved in small group instruction with the teacher, independent or partner reading, listening activities, and in hands-on activities to learn language, vocabulary, and writing. Find out more about this great structure within our reading program at: The Daily 5 Cafe
I talked to teachers at Harding and other schools. I researched reading approaches on the internet and read books about teaching reading. One approach stood out above the rest: The Daily 5: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. Harding Academy adopted this framework for instruction in August 2012. Instead of whole group instruction in their desks, the children are involved in small group instruction with the teacher, independent or partner reading, listening activities, and in hands-on activities to learn language, vocabulary, and writing. Find out more about this great structure within our reading program at: The Daily 5 Cafe
Literacy Work Stations - An Engaging Approach for Senior Kindergarten
A strong focus on reading is also present in our Senior Kindergarten classrooms. Research on emergent readers supports finding ways to actively engage children in literacy activities. Literacy Work Stations provide hands-on learning experiences for our youngest students. The framework for our literacy program comes from Literacy Work Stations: Making Centers Work by Debbie Diller. Our SK students have a great time exploring reading, phonics, language, and writing using Literacy Work Stations. It is exciting to observe all the purposeful activity and fun happening in our SK classrooms! For more information on literacy work stations visit: Literacy Work Stations